Hope for Lyme - in memory of Jerry Tucker
Donation protected
The last 17 pain filled years, we have helplessly watched our beloved dad and Pops slip away from us. We are watching our mom grieve the loss of the love of her life, her high school sweetheart, her Honey. Our only comfort is knowing that he is now pain free and in Paradise.
For years, he had been misdiagnosed over and over with Fibromyalgia and we were completely oblivious to Lyme disease. He had been in so much pain for so long and Doctor after Doctor told him there was nothing wrong. Nothing came up in the blood work. The pain he was describing is not possible (or so they said). They literally told him he was crazy and it was all in his head.
We knew him. We knew he wasn’t crazy. We knew he really was in pain. It wasn’t until 2017 when an advertisement for Envita Medical Centers came up on his phone while he was searching his symptoms and looking for an explanation.
After contacting Envita, multiple different tests for Lyme disease were completed and the results came back. He had Lyme. Finally. A diagnosis.
But now what? Lyme is not recognized by traditional doctors or by insurance companies. They were on their own. After researching treatment, mom and dad found that most patients treated at Envita in Scottsdale, AZ were completely healed. The problem…between treatment, housing, and transportation, it would drain their life savings. To mom it was 100% worth every penny to save him. So off to Scottsdale they went.
After three grueling months of treatment, he came home healed! Or so we thought.
The doctors explained that Lyme never actually dies. The levels can be brought down and maintained to increase a quality of life but there is a chance of it rearing it’s ugly head again.
For about a year, mom and dad traveled from Vegas to St. George, UT twice a week to visit Dr. Jensen. He is the only doctor remotely close that could perform the life-long maintenance treatment that dad needed. As you can imagine, the commute was exhausting and costly. When they made the decision to move to St. George to be closer to the doctor, the future looked bright. Dr. Jensen and his wife, Kim even opened their home to them for a few weeks while they were waiting to move into their home.
But after about another year, the pain came back, slowly the first few months but stronger and stronger in the coming months. The Lyme was fighting and over time it was once again winning.
At this point, there’s nothing left. No life savings to go back for treatment again. No second chance.
Knowing what he had to lose, our dad fought for his health, he fought for his family, he fought for his friends. The Lyme at this point had taken a hold of his body and wore down his immune system and function, and just like that, we lost him.
In our heartache, we would like to extend hope to others suffering from Lyme disease as most treatments are not covered by traditional insurance. Our family prays that you will join us in the mission to impact others going through the same heartbreak, to make a difference, and give hope for a better outcome. This was the heart of our dad, his mission was always about others. Let’s keep his legacy alive, let’s keep his spirit and willingness to serve others moving forward. All proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated directly to Alternative and Preventative Medicine of Southern Utah (Dr. Jensen’s clinic) to aid in furthering research, treatment, and machines for those suffering from this horrific disease.
For years, he had been misdiagnosed over and over with Fibromyalgia and we were completely oblivious to Lyme disease. He had been in so much pain for so long and Doctor after Doctor told him there was nothing wrong. Nothing came up in the blood work. The pain he was describing is not possible (or so they said). They literally told him he was crazy and it was all in his head.
We knew him. We knew he wasn’t crazy. We knew he really was in pain. It wasn’t until 2017 when an advertisement for Envita Medical Centers came up on his phone while he was searching his symptoms and looking for an explanation.
After contacting Envita, multiple different tests for Lyme disease were completed and the results came back. He had Lyme. Finally. A diagnosis.
But now what? Lyme is not recognized by traditional doctors or by insurance companies. They were on their own. After researching treatment, mom and dad found that most patients treated at Envita in Scottsdale, AZ were completely healed. The problem…between treatment, housing, and transportation, it would drain their life savings. To mom it was 100% worth every penny to save him. So off to Scottsdale they went.
After three grueling months of treatment, he came home healed! Or so we thought.
The doctors explained that Lyme never actually dies. The levels can be brought down and maintained to increase a quality of life but there is a chance of it rearing it’s ugly head again.
For about a year, mom and dad traveled from Vegas to St. George, UT twice a week to visit Dr. Jensen. He is the only doctor remotely close that could perform the life-long maintenance treatment that dad needed. As you can imagine, the commute was exhausting and costly. When they made the decision to move to St. George to be closer to the doctor, the future looked bright. Dr. Jensen and his wife, Kim even opened their home to them for a few weeks while they were waiting to move into their home.
But after about another year, the pain came back, slowly the first few months but stronger and stronger in the coming months. The Lyme was fighting and over time it was once again winning.
At this point, there’s nothing left. No life savings to go back for treatment again. No second chance.
Knowing what he had to lose, our dad fought for his health, he fought for his family, he fought for his friends. The Lyme at this point had taken a hold of his body and wore down his immune system and function, and just like that, we lost him.
In our heartache, we would like to extend hope to others suffering from Lyme disease as most treatments are not covered by traditional insurance. Our family prays that you will join us in the mission to impact others going through the same heartbreak, to make a difference, and give hope for a better outcome. This was the heart of our dad, his mission was always about others. Let’s keep his legacy alive, let’s keep his spirit and willingness to serve others moving forward. All proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated directly to Alternative and Preventative Medicine of Southern Utah (Dr. Jensen’s clinic) to aid in furthering research, treatment, and machines for those suffering from this horrific disease.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tucker Family
Organizer
Cedar City, UT
Rick Jensen
Beneficiary